Continuance

Spring 1994 Volume 8 Number 3

Continuance is a quarterly newsletter funded by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. It is a collaborative project of the 17 intergenerational coalitions and networks in Illinois.

Special Issue on Intergenerational Coalitions

Contents

• Front Page
• Location of Intergenerational Coalitions in Illinois
• Developing Intergenerational Coalitions
• Beginnings of an Intergenerational Coalition
• Coalition Solves a Problem
• Guest Editorial: John Gardner
• Advice from Experts
• National Intergenerational Coalition
• Local and Regional Intergenerational Coalitions
• Resources
• Together We Can
• Training Session

Front Page

LIFELONG Shows Collaborative Effort

"I love it when a plan comes together," was the motto of a TV series called the A-TEAM. A coalition of community colleges has seen its "plan" come together with the formalization of LIFELONG Learning and Service for Community Colleges. This collaborative effort was responsible for the completion of a brochure, a directory, and a presentation to the Community College President's Council. The goals of the coalition are to share information among colleges and to involve older adults as lifelong learners and in service opportunities. The next meeting will be held October 4 in central Illinois. Contact George Floyd, Chair, 618-634-2292.

Building Coalitions

Building a coalition is like playing a complex game of connecting the dots. For a statewide coalition, like the two discussed on this page, the connections must criss-cross the state, filter from the top-down, and percolate from the bottom-up. The local and regional coalitions described on pages 2,4, and 6 give real life examples of the things that work and the committed individuals that ensure success. New coalitions are emerging every day, particularly among those who participate in the Generations Connect community forums listed on page 8. The guest editorial is an excerpt from John W. Gardner's book, On Leadership. His rich publications (Building Community, On Leadership, Excellence and Self Renewal) give us the tools to create productive and meaningful coalitions.

Coalition Brings Key Leaders Together

"Mix the wisdom and experience of age with the energy and enthusiasm of youth and you get a winning combination," PTA president, Carolee Caplan wrote in a recent PTA newsletter. She continues a tradition for PTA involvement with the State leaders of key aging and education organizations. That involvement started in 1991 when Bill Westberg, then State Director of AARP, brought a few people together to discuss mutual goals and how their organizations could work together. Since that beginning the group has grown and found many commonalities. Mary Walsh, representing the Illinois Association of School Boards, "We build bridges between organizations serving older adults and organizations serving young people. Most of all, we build a sense of trust." Other members include the Illinois Department on Aging, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, Illinois Program Office for National and Community Service, and the Illinois Intergenerational Initiative. Contact Mary Walsh, See Page 2.

Intergenerational Coalitions in Illinois

Statewide Coalitions. 1. Together in Coalition: State Leaders of Education and Aging, Mary Walsh, 10014 W. Hope, Rosemont, IL 60018, 708-825-4725. 2. Illinois Association of Foster Grandparents Programs and Senior Companions, Ken Bernat, Chicago Department on Aging, 510 North Peshtigo Court, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-744-3221. 3. LIFELONG: Learning and Service in Community Colleges, George Floyd, Shawnee Community College, Ullin Road, Ullin, IL 62992, 618-634-2242. 4. Association of RSVP Directors, Carla Gosney, John Wood Community College, 1125 Hampshire, Quincy, IL 62301, 217-244-3633. 5. Illinois Intergenerational Initiative Advisory Board, Jane Angelis, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, 618-453-1186.

Regional and Local Intergenerational Coalitions. 6. Northwestern Intergenerational Network, Mike Shore, Highland Community College, Pearl City Road, Freeport, IL 61032, 815-235-6121. 7. Northeastern Illinois Partnership for Intergenerational Care, Barbara Haley, Division of Health Facilities, Lake County Health Department, 3012 West Grand Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085, 708-360-6733. 8. Evanston Intergenerational Committee, Evanston Commission on Aging, Sally Mackert, 1314 Ridge, Evanston, IL 60201, 708-492-5590. 9. Chicago Metropolitan Intergenerational Committee, Maureen Statland, District 214 Community Education, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, 708-364-8689. 10. DuPage Consortium Intergenerational Task Force, Robyn McBroom, Headstart, 602 West Second, Genoa, IL 60135, 708-510-0740. 11. Chicago Intergenerational Initiative, Robert Stuart, 400 E. Randolph, Suite 6-B, Chicago, IL 60601-312-565-2492. 12. South Suburban Intergenerational Network, Georgia Selmon, Bloom Township Youth Services, 425 South Halsted, Chicago, IL 60411, 708-754-9400. 13. Quad Cities Intergenerational Network, Betty Michelsen, RSVP of Quad Cities, 1417 Sixth Avenue, Moline, IL 61265, 309-764-6804. 14. Pekin Intergenerational Network, Joan Wood, Pekin Public Library, 301 South 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, 309-347-7111. 15. Springfield Intergenerational Network, Sally Petrone, St. John's Hospital, 800 East Carpenter, Springfield, IL 62769, 217-525-5699. 16. East St. Louis Intergenerational Network, Judy Ware, Foster Grandparents, State Community College, 601 Thompson Blvd, East St. Louis, IL 62201, 618-583-2543. 17. Southern Illinois Intergenerational Coalition, Benton, Brenda Stewart, Benton High School, Benton, IL 62812, 618-439-3103. Emerging Local or Regional Coalitions: Rockford Intergenerational Network, Lake County Intergenerational Council.

Developing Intergenerational Coalitions

1. Bring Dynamic People Together. Bringing dynamic people together is the spark that ignites the fire of a coalition. One person may have a vision, but until it is shared and captures the imagination of others, will never realize its full potential. Who are the dynamic people? Who are the leaders? That is a challenging question because you can never predict who will dig in and get involved. Carla Gosney, Quincy, describes her experience planning a Generations Connect meeting in 1993. "Having a group of people willing to work makes all the difference in the world. When people say 'I'll do this and I'll do that,' and then do it--we have found our leaders."

2. Build Cohesiveness. Barbara Haley speaks dynamically about their emerging Lake County Coalition. "We find so many commonalities among our coalition members. Everyone is willing to put a little piece of energy into it." When a coalition has started with an open and non-judgmental forum allowing people to discuss their agendas and to be honest in their reasons for joining, understanding and trust will result. It is possible to meld the interests and agendas of coalition members into a new culture, one that is based on collaboration and communication. Joan Wood, Pekin, calls this "Bringing different perspectives together into the unity of a team."

3. Create a Team Culture. People come together for a hundred reasons: they want to talk to each other and share information; they want to organize a specific activity; they want to address a problem. A few people gathered around a table can provide answers to questions like: "What are we doing separately that we could do together? What organizational priorities are similar? What can we give that may be valuable to others? Creating a Team culture happens with shared experiences, a motto, a logo, a brochure, publicity, the recognition that this group is terrific.

4. Communicate. Many of the coalitions presented on page 2 identify their strength as knowing the other members and understanding how they can work together. Regularly scheduled meetings aren't always essential but connections to other coalition members are essential. Being able to pick up the phone when a need or question arises brings cohesiveness to a group. Some groups establish a formal structure with officers and a mission statement. Others keep it simple and informal.

5. Renew. Hopefully the Team culture leads to renewed goals and new successes. Sally Mackert, Evanston, calls renewal an important part of a coalition's vitality. "Practically all goals tarnish with time, if not renewed in some way." Return to the original dream for the coalition and think about your progress. As time goes on, leadership will vary. sometimes one or two committed persons keep things "fired-up." Sometimes leadership moves toward someone passionately involved with the activity. The most successful coalitions happened not because of funding, not because it was legislated, not because a model was established, but because of the drive of committed individuals.

6. Humor. Humor is a gift to the coalition developers because it gives us a way of moving beyond the seriousness of the moment. A coalition with humor results not only in accomplishments, but the joy of bringing happiness and fun into lives.

The Beginnings of an Intergenerational Coalition

Most coalitions begin with a "bang" or visible event. Such was the case with the Chicago Intergenerational Summit. The Chicago Intergenerational group started by bringing together a group of dynamic individuals. The importance of their mission was recognized by dignitaries Marie Robinson, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago and General Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools Argie Johnson. The summit gave participants the opportunity to share information and intergenerational stories, as well as discuss ways organizations could work more closely together.

The organizations that were represented included the Art Institute, Boy Scouts, Buehler Center on Aging/Northwestern University, Chicago Cares, Chicago Cluster, Chicago Department on Aging, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago PTA, Chicago Public Schools, Council for Jewish Elderly, Cooperative Extension Service, Community Renewal Society, Executive Service Corps, Girl Scouts, Grandma Please, Illinois Alliance on Aging, Illinois Intergenerational Initiative, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Imagine Chicago, Lt. Governors Office of Voluntary and Senior Action, Loyola University, University of Illinois, LifeLink, Mary McDowell Settlement/Chicago Commons, National Retiree Volunteer Corps, Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Hull House, Rochele Lee Foundation, Rotary International, Public Allies, Sojourner Truth Elementary School, United Charities, University of Chicago, Voices for Illinois Children, Working in the Schools (WITS), and Willing Interested Senior Educators (WISE). From the beginning the group has convened every two months to foster communication links among coalition members. Contact Robert Stuart, Chair (See Page two).

A Coalition Solves A Problem

Elder care and child care providers were concerned about the lack of guidance for intergenerational day care facilities. This need was the instigating factor that brought together child and aging organizations to discuss long term care, adult day care, and child care. Those who were involved with the first meeting of the Northeastern Illinois Partnership for Intergenerational Care included Lake County Health Department, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services--Lake Villa Office, Condell Medical Center and Day Center for Intergenerational Care and Libertyville Manor Extended Care Facility/Young at Heart Preschool-Child/Adult Day Center, Inc. As a coalition they have taken gargantuan leaps. They conducted a survey, discussed the need for guidelines, and hammered out an impressive set of guidelines related to regulation/non-regulation of intergenerational programs in a structured care setting. The coalition was founded in Fall, 1991. For copies contact Barbara Haley, see page 2.

Guest Editorial--John W. Gardner

Networking. "A few years ago one rarely heard network used as a verb, but the usage has spread because it describes an increasingly necessary function: the process of creating or maintaining a pattern of informal linkages among individuals or institutions. In a swiftly changing environment, established and formal linkages may no longer serve, or may have been disrupted. New and flexible interconnections become necessary. If each segment of our national life is to find a way of flourishing that is compatible with--even contributes to--the flourishing of other segments, the first step is to create communication among the diverse elements. And to this end key people throughout each system must establish networks of informal give and take with people in neighboring systems."

The Knitting Together. "Coalition builders seek to formulate goals and values that lift all participants out of their separate preoccupations by gaining their commitment to larger objectives. It was not only the skilled conceptual work of Madison, Hamilton and others that finally forged thirteen former colonies into a nation. It was also the vision of something in the future, the destiny of a new nation, that lifted them out of their parochialisms and moved them toward union. The other major task in coalition building is to establish trust among the participants in the coalition. It has been my experience that contending parties may agree on the facts, even see possible paths to agreement, but harbor such distrust of one another's motives that agreement cannot be achieved. Coalition requires that all parties develop habits of candor, that they hold posturing and game-playing to a minimum, that they be forthright not only about their real interests, needs and goals but also about their fears and suspicions. Such objectives are furthered not only through formal discussion but also through information communication under congenial circumstances.

Leaders of a coalition must ensure that each member of the coalition becomes fully acquainted with the constituencies of the others around the table--what they want, what they fear, and what assumptions (or misconceptions) they hold concerning the subject at hand. Sometimes what seems irrational from the member at the bargaining table becomes wholly understandable if one knows the concerns of the member's constituents, And only through such knowledge can the group find what the late Carl Holman, a distinguished civil rights leader, called "convergence issues"--the common ground on which collaboration can go forward. From On Leadership

Advice from the experts

1. "Committed leadership is the key to a successful intergenerational coalition." Tess Scannell, Generations United, Washington. 2. "An intergenerational coalition brings together networks that don't have contact with one another. Through discussion the members of the coalition can discover mutual needs and lessons." Kevin Brabazon, New York Intergenerational Network. 3. An intergenerational network gives organizations the power to collaborate--to work together. We can plan projects that involve youth and elders that truly respond to the needs of the community." Mary Stamsted, Wisconsin Intergenerational Network. 4. "United, we can make the economic pie grow for all of us. We find creative ways to work together to use the resources of each group--thus supporting our common goals." Pam Piering, Seattle.

The National Intergenerational Coalition

Generations United comprises national organizations that serve children, youth, older people and families; Generations United, with more than 100 member organizations, has outlined several goals: --to unite interested organizations at national, state and local levels o key public-policy issues that address human needs across all generations; --to increase the awareness by the public and the coalition members' constituents of common issues faced by Americans of every generation; --to produce and distribute programmatic information and materials for the member organizations, and public; --to participate in endeavors that bring the generations together for service to the community and one another. Tess Scannell, Generational United, 440 First St. NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20001, 202-638-2952.

Local and Regional Intergenerational Coalitions

Bringing Dynamic People Together. "It's amazing what you can do when you don't know you can't do it" commented Joan Wood, Pekin Public Library. Using this philosophy she invited community leaders to get involved in an intergenerational network. Community service providers and educators were invited to an early morning meeting at the library to discuss networking possibilities. About a dozen attended. Each person shared intergenerational experiences and discussed current needs that might be met by working with other agencies. For example, tray favors for Meals On Wheels were needed. A teacher said she would make this a class project. No one was interested in regular meetings, but all agreed to try to help one another whenever possible. We are not a formal coalition, but rather a loosely-knit support group for Intergenerational programs. "It is our hope that by working together we can better meet the community's intergenerational needs." Coalition Founded: November 17, 1992.

Evanston

Chicago Metropolitan Intergenerational Committee

DuPage

RESOURCES

Building Community, John W. Gardner, Independent Sector, 1828 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-223-8199.

Becoming a School Partner: A Guide for Organizing Intergenerational Partnerships in Schools, American Association of Retired Persons and the National Association of Partners in Education, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049.

Collaboration for Community and Systems Change, Himmelnam, 1406 West Lake, Suite 209, Minneapolis, MN 55408, 612-824-5507.

Creating Intergenerational Coalitions, Jane Angelis, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, 618-453-1186.

"The Knitting Together," Chapter 10 from On Leadership, John W. Gardner, available at book stores.

Rebuilding Communities from the Inside Out, Kretzmann, and McKnight, Center for Urban Affairs, Urban Programs, Northwestern University, 2040 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, 708-491-8712.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey, available at book stores.

Side by Side, Exploring Your Neighborhood Through Intergenerational Activities, Kaplan, MIG Communications, 1802 Fifth St., Berkeley, CA 94710, 510-845-0953.

State and Local Intergenerational Coalitions and Networks: A Compendium of Profiles, Tess Scannell and Angela Roberts, Generations United, 440 First St. NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20001, 202-638-2952.

Together We Can: A Guide for Crafting a Profamily System of Education and Human Services, U.S. Government Printing Office, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 204023.

Coming: Excellent Training Session

"The Making of a Successful Volunteer Program" with Jeanne Bradner, author of "Passionate Volunteerism." Major topics to be addressed: --The talent bank,--Perceived barriers to involving seniors,--Model programs which involve older adults,--Effective volunteer management,--Model policies regarding volunteer involvement in the agency,--Job descriptions,--Recruitment,--Interviewing,--Recognition. Schedule: 8:30-3:30. Chicago, Westin Hotel, July 26. Springfield, Holiday Inn East, July 27. Mt. Vernon, Ramada Hotel, July 28.

Together We Can

Atelia I. Melaville and Martin J. Blank

Across America, people are recognizing that all of the institutions and agencies whose mission is to nurture and strengthen children and families must collaborate. They realize that no single institutions has the resources or capacity to do the job alone. Collaborative strategies, in which partners share a vision, establish common goals, and agree to use their power to achieve them, are necessary; commitment of resources and willingness to alter existing policies are a vital part of such strategies. Five stages are described in realizing the vision. One--Getting Together, Two--Building Trust and Ownership. Three--Developing a Strategic Plan, Four--Taking Action and Five--Going to Scale. From Together We Can, see Resources